A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.
Mark 15:21
Poor Simon. He was just visiting Jerusalem at Passover time and found himself forced to carry the Lord’s cross. I wonder what he did when he reached Golgotha? Get away as quickly as possible? Or did he stay and watch an event which then changed his life for ever; and was it his son to whom Paul referred when writing, Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord (Rom.16:13)? Pure speculation – but perhaps not too fanciful when one considers the impression the Lord’s crucifixion must have had on any witness. Could we have watched unmoved?
Daily Reading: 2 Kings 23
Bible in One Year: John 6 22-59; 1 Chronicles 24; Zechariah 10
